Casing head section for conveyerelevators



March 25, 1941. F. F. WAECHTER CASING HEAD SECTION FOR CONYEYER ELEVATORS 4 shoe ts sheet 1 Filed Jari. 30, 1940 Mamh 1941- F. FpWAECHTER 35.856

CASING HEAD SECTION FOR CONVEYER ELEVATORS Fild Jan. 30, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 F. F. WAECHTER CASING HEAD SECTION FOR CONVEYER ELEVATORS Filed Jan. 30, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 E w .M .M. W. (a WV]! 3 n/ n n (3 u n M 1| J x J J .611 F w GIWJH h l 4 i I l W l y u 5 f l i a? x x u t r S I I, 5 flfi 4 4 W 4 W i i 3 J! a :1 j NW .4. a a a i Z J 0 WW 7 a V I w a J, i1 r? u M M mm a MIN, lzdabmdiliaedlw March 194 1. F. F. WAECHTER CASING HEAD SECTION FOR CQNVEYER ELEVATORS AShhotS-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 30, 1940 iii M 01' h Patented Mar. 25, 1941 CASING HEAD SECTION FOR CONVEYER- ELEVATORS Ferdinand F. Waechter, Philadelphia, Pa., as-

signor to Link-Belt Company, a corporation of Illinois Application January 30, 1940, Serial No. 316,436

21 Claims.

This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in casing head sections for conveyerelevators of the type which transport lump, granular, powdered; or other comminuted materials in a continuous flow or. mass and effect discharge from their head sections.

In copending application Ser. No. 316,434, filed by William W. Sayers, on January 30, 1940, there is disclosed and claimed a novel peak-top solid flight type of conveyer structure which is partieularly effective in transporting flowable materials in a continuous stream or mass through enclosing casings. When. this type of flight is employed in a casing which is laid out in a closed path that includes a vertical leg, for example, a conveyer-elevator, the transported material usually is discharged from the head section of head section of the casing. .Thematerial flows off of the flight on all four sides and must be properly delivered to the discharge chute which will carry it away from the casing head.

If the material is not carried away from the head section at leastas rapidly as it is delivered thereto by the flights, the head section of the casing will fill. If this occurs, the flights will not ."I, he allowed to properly discharge their load and a considerable amount of material will be carried over to,and down the return run of the conveyer with the result that the capacity of the machine will be greatly reduced. Also, the material may build up to such an extent as to jam the transporting mechanism and cause considerable damage.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide means for effecting rapid and complete delivery to the discharge chute of all material unloaded in the casing head section by the flights of the transporting mechanism.

A further important object of the'invention is casing head section from the upper end of the active vertical leg oi. the casing.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for splitting or spreading the material which is discharged from the rear edges of the 5 flights so that as this material moves toward the discharge chute it will pass around the opening through which the loaded flights enter the casing head section.

A still further object of the invention is to 10 provide a conveyer casing head section structure which will permit of easy renewal or replacement of parts which are subject to the greatest amount of wear.

Other'specific objects and advantages, of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a casing head section for conveyer-elevators which embodies this invention,

Figure 2 is a partly vertical sectional view partly front elevational view of the upper portion of the head section disclosed in Fig. 1,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the upper portion of the casing head section disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2 with a peak-top flight type of transporting mechanism operatively arranged therein,

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 4-1 of Fig. 1,

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 1,

Figure 6 is a detail, vertical sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 2,

Figure '7ls a vertical sectional view of a portion of a casing head section and illustrates a modified form of flow splitting wedge structure from that disclosed in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive,

Figure ii is a vertical sectional view taken at right angles to the disclosure of Fig. '7,

Figure 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 but illustrates a still further modified form of flow splitting wedge structure,

Figure 10 is a view similar to Fig. 'I but illustrates another form or arrangement of flow split- 5 ting wedge, Figure ii is a vertical sectional view of the casing head structure disclosed in Fig. 10 but taken at right angles thereto,

Figure 12 is a. view similar to Fig. 11 but 11- u and 25 lustrates another form of flow splitting wedge structure,

Figure 13 is a detail, vertical sectional view of a portion of the head casing section illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 with a replaceable lining or wear plate applied over a portion of the gathering chute illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and with a replacement flow splitting wedge secured to the said lining or wear plate and overlying the original flow splitting wedge of the structure, and

Figure 14 is a front elevational view of the replaceable lining or wear plate and the replacement flow splitting wedge illustrated in vertical section in Fig. 13.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shown the preferred embodiments -of this invention, and particularly referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 5 in which there are disclosed certain detail features of construction of thecasing head section embodying this invention, this casing head section is formed of pressed or stamped sheet metal and, with the exception of certain joint structures which are specifically disclosed and described, because of their importance, no attempt will be made to illustrate in detail all of the seams or joints which might be provided in uniting separately formed sheet metal parts. It will be appreciated that the essential structural characteristics of this head casing section might be obtained by numerous variations of the structure which is specifically illustrated.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal, sectional view through the vertical leg portion of the structure disclosed in Fig. 1. It will be seen that this vertical leg portion is formed by a plate which is properly shaped to provide the side walls l5 and the front wall it of a casing leg which is of substantially rectangular shape in the illustrated section. The rear edges of the side walls iii are illustrated as having flanges I! welded thereto and projecting laterally outwardly thereof. Figs. 1 and 5 disclose the flanges H as having replaceably secured thereto, as by means of bolts, or the like, a renewable plate 88. Fig. l discloses'the upper edge portion of this renewable plate is as being ofiset at H which will make allowance for inaccuracies in this renewal plate and yet provide a closed or continuous joint. t The flange 2B is formed on the edge of this offset portion if! to allow for the omission of bolts across the casing at this joint location. Fig. 1 illustrates suitable flanges 2| secured to the lower edges of the walls l5 and i6 and the renewable plate 88 for use in securing a lower casing section 22 to the lower end of the casing head section. Figs. 1 and 5 disclose a partition plate 23 as extending between the side walls i5 for dividing this portion of the easing into the active leg portion and the inactive or return leg portion 25 through which the transporting mechanism travels in going to and from the head sprocket wheel; see'Figs. 2 and 4, located in the 'upper portion of the head section. This sprocket wheel will be specifically referred to at a later point. The partition plate 23 is secured to the inner faces of the side walls ill by welding at 26. It will be noted that the welding for these seams or joints is located on the return side of the partition so that the up or active run portion 23 may be unobstructed.

Above the joint formed at the upper end 0'. the renewable plate It, the rear wall 21 of the down or'inactive leg 25 is closed by a permanent portionof the casing. It will be noted by inspecting F 1 that the permanent rear wall 21- and the upper portion of the renewable plate 18 diverge rearwardly from the truly perpendicular front wall l6. This provides a flare or an increased depth in the casing which allows for the return run of the transmission mechanism to travel from .the periphery of the head sprocket wheel down into the reduced, next adjacent casing section 22 and the portion of the-head casing section which lies immediately thereabove. This return of the transmission mechanism is best illustrated in Fig. 3. It will be appreciated that in moving into the more restricted lower portion of the head casing section, the flights of the transmission mechanism will scrape or drag along the inner surface of the renewable plate l8. This plate, therefore, will be subjected to considerable wear and for that reason it is renewable.

Figs. 1 and 2 clearly disclose the upper end of the up or active portion 24 and a part of the down or return portion of the casing as being cut off at an angle of approximately 50, or along the line 28. The purpose of this will be developed at a later point. The side walls l5, where they project above the upper end of the line 28, flare Y laterally outwardly away from each other at 29 to provide an increased width at this portion of the casing. The side wall portions 30, located above the upwardly diverging side wall portions 29, are arranged in parallelism. An extension 27a of the permanent rear Wall 27 closes the upper part of the casing formed by the side wall portions 29 and 30. Fig. 4 further illustrates this construction of the casing.

By inspecting Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that an inclined gathering chute 3i is joined to the side Walls l5 of the casing along the aforementioned line 28. This gathering chute is of greater width than the width of the casing portion having the side walls Hi; i. e., this gathering chute 3i is wider than the up and down portions 24 and of the casing. The width of the gathering chute, therefore, defines the bottom wall or floor of a casing enlargement which facilitates unloading or spilling of the transported material from the flights. The upper'portion 3|a of the gathering chute extends at a greater angle upwardly to the horizontal plane which intersects the axis of the shaft on which the head wheel is mounted. This gathering chute portion 3Ia joins with the front edges of the upwardly diverging casing side wall portions 29. This gathering chute portion Ella is illustrated in Fig. 2 as being cut away or notched at 32 to accommodate the head sprocket Wheel. The opposite sides of the discharge chamber, which has the gathering chute 3i as a floor, are formed by the walls 33. The major portion of the front of this discharge chamber is left open to provide a discharge dpening through which the material leaves teh casing head section. A flange structure 34 is joined to the edges of the discharge opening. This flange is employed for bolting to the head section a suitable chute or conduit, not shown, by means of which the material discharged from the head section of the conveyer-elevator, is carried to the point or points of use.

The upper edges of the side wall portions and 33 and the front and rear wall portions 35 and 36, respectively, are flanged at 31 and 38. The flanges 31 project outwardly from the front and rear walls 35 and 36 while the flanges 38 project laterally inwardly from the wall portions 30 and 33. A cover 39 is employed for closing the upper end of they head casing section. This cover is flanged at 40 for being removably secured to the flanges 31 and 38 of the main body of the wall portions 35 and 36, respectively, of the upper part of the' main head casing section. These angle irons are joined at their end portions to bearing brackets or supporting beams 43 which extend transversely of and bear against the wide walls 33 and 30 of the upper portionof the head casing. These bearing brackets or beams 43 may project laterally of the head casing, as at 44, if desired, for supporting a suitable prime mover, employed for driving the head shaft 4|.

The casing side wall portions are illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 5 as having openings 45 formed therein through which the head shaft 4| projects laterally outwardly in opposite directions from the casing. These projecting portions of the shaft are journaled in bearings 46, see Figs. 2 and 4, which are adiust'ably supported on the bearing brackets 43. Bolt holes 41 are formed in the bearing brackets 43 while bolt receiving, elongated openings 43 are formed in the base portions 49 of the bearing. Bolts, not shown, are to be-arranged in these openings 41 and 48 for attaching the hearings to the brackets 43. Takeup screws 50 are adjustably mounted on the brackets 43 and function to adjust or position the head sprocket wheel 5| relative to the up or active passage 24 of the head casing section. y In other words, the pitch circle of-the head sprocket) wheel 5| should be so positioned relative to th "up" passage 24 of the head-casing asto cause the chain, or the like, of the transmission mechanism to bear against the partition 23 in its upward movement through the casing leg portion 26. A safety collar 521s secured t'o'one extremity of the head shaft 4| for preventing endwise movement of the head shaftin one direction while the hub 53 of the drive sprocket 54 is secured to the remaining end portion of the head shaft 4| for preventing axial movement of this shaft in the opposite direction.

To seal the openings 4| against the leakage of material being conveyed,suitable sealing memhers 55 encircle the head shaft 4| and overlie the inner sides of the openings 45. These sealing members are split sothat they may be applied to and removed from the head shaft 4| without disturbing the shaft. Collars 56v are secured to the shaft to retain the sealing members 55 against. the inner surfacesof the side walls 33 of the casing. By inspecting Fig. 2, it will be seen that these collars 5'6 and sealing members 55 underlie the inwardly directed flanges 3 8 sothat they will in no way interfere with the, flow or discharge of material from the conveyor mechanism flights. 7

By inspecting Figs. 1, 2, and 4, it will be seen that the gathering chute 3| is provided with a flight opening 51 which registers with the bore of the active or "up passage 24. The conveyer flights, therefore, will be permitted to move smoothly from the bore of the casing passage .24 throughjthe opening W of thegathering chute til. Positioned upon and suitably secured, as by means of welding, to the portion of the gathering chute 3| located upwardly or inwardly of the flight opening 51! is a flow splitting wedge 55. This wedge is provided with laterally. downwardly sloping top surfaces or walls 59 which terminate at their side edges in perpendicular Wall portions or surfaces 30. The front wall 5| of this flow splitting wedge 58 is perpendicularly arranged f 24 and 25. By inspecting Fig. 2 it will be seen that the laterally, downwardly sloping top walls or surfaces 59 of the flow splitting wedge 53 form a ridge 62 at the junctionof their upper edges. This ridge is centered with respect to the head sprocket wheels 5|. Figs. land-2 also disclose this ridge line 62 as being arranged at an angle with respect to the horizontal, or, as v sloping downwardly toward the discharge opening formed in the side wall of. the casing.

Fig. 3 discloses the head casing structure previously described with material transporting mechanism of the type disclosed in the aforementioned William W. Sayers application which includes the solid peak-top flights. As the casing parts or elements are all thesame as those which have been described heretofore, the same reference characters will be applied in Fig. 3.

This transmission mechanism includes a flexible drive member 63 which may be formed of an appropriate number of chain links connected by articulated joints. Each link is provided with an attachment lug B4 to which the peaktop flights 55. are appropriately attached. These flights are made from solid plates and include oppositely inclined portions 66 and. 61. These inclined portions may be arranged at any desired relative angle and angles with respect to the horizontal.

In moving from the "up or active passage 24 into the discharge chamber floored by the discharge chute 3|, the flights move through the flight opening 51 formed in the chute. One of the peak-top flights 65 is arranged in position A in which a portion b of the material spills over the front edge of the flight onto the gathering chute and moves or flows through the side discharge opening of the casing. The portion a of the material remains resting on the inner or rear inclined portion 66 of the flight in position A. This material a is supported at its rear by the partition 23 and at its opposite sides by the side walls it of the casing leg.

The flight arranged in position B has moved above the plane of the gathering chute 3i so that the material a resting on this flight is no longer supported at its opposite sides. Some of the material, therefore, has discharged or spilled laterally off of both side edges. of the flight onto the side portions of the gathering chutes which are arranged in opposite sides of the flight opening 51. The rear of this material a in flight position B, is still supported by the front perpendicular wall or surface 6| of the flow splitting wedge 58. As the peak-top flights 55 move upwardly along the front face M of the flow splitting wedge 53, some of the material a is permitted to discharge, as designated by the reference character 0 rearwardly oil of the flights because the upper edges of the perpendicular face 6| of the wedge converge toward the peak line 52. This material c spills onto the downwardly and laterally sloping surfaces 59 of the wedge and is delivered tothe side portions of the gathering chute 3i aloud which the material will flow to the discharge opening of the casing. This splitting or spreading of the material laterally will cause it to pass around the flight opening 51 of the chute so that it will not in any way interfere with the material being conveyed by the flights through this opening.

When the flights move from position C up to and through positions D and E, the materiala remaining thereon is that material which will not As the peak-top" flights 65 moveinto position F, the angle of the rear inclined portion of each flight is increased and the material a which remained on the flights in positions D and E will be discharged as indicated by the reference character 11.

As the peak-topflights 55 move around the head sprocket wheel 5|, the angle of their inner flight portions 66 will increase until the angle passes the perpendicular, which is indicated in flight position G. Assuming that a very small amount of material has remained on the flight after leaving position F, this material will be discharged as indicated by the reference character e.

It will be appreciated that all of the material which spills over the rear edges of the flights, in moving from position B up to and including position G, will fall downwardly in back of the chain, or the flexible drive member 63. Any of this material which falls on the downwardly, lateral'y sloping top surfaces 59 of the flow splitting wedge 58 will be spread laterally by this wedge onto the side portions of the gathering chute 3i and will flow down the portions past the flight opening 51 formed in the chute. This rearwardly discharged material, therefore, will in no way interfere with the movement of material through the flight opening fat on the flights as they pass through the opening. As the material handled by the transporting mechanism all spills .onto the gathering chute 3i and the flow splitting wedge 58, these elements will be subjected to a considerable amount of abrasive action and rapid wear. It becomes desirable, therefore, to be able to renew these portions of the mechanism. Figs. 13 and 14 disclose suitable renewal parts for the gathering chute and the flow splitting wedge.

A lining or wear plate 58 is provided which will exactly flt over the portion of the gathering chute 3! which surrounds the flight opening 51 and the flow splitting wedge 58. Apertures 69 are provided in the margins of this plate 88 for receiving suitable securing devices, such as rivets, bolts, or the like. The plate 68 is provided with an opening 70 which includes a substantially rectangularportion H and a cone-shaped or pointed portion H2. The rectangular portion H is intended to conform in size and shape with the flight opening 51 of the gathering chute 3!. The opening portion 12 is of a proper shape and size to allow for the passage of the flow splitting wedge 58 therethrough. The lining orwear plate 58 may either be used with or without a replacement flow splitting wedge 13. This wedge is secured by welding, or the like, to the plate 68 when it is to be used. If the substitute wedge 13 is not to be used, theoriglnal flow splitting wedge 53 will properly cooperate with the replacement plate 68. This substitute or replacement wedge 13 should take the same shape as the wedge 58 so that this latter wedge will be nested within the replacement wedge I3. Figs. 7 to 12, inclusive, illustrate various modifications of the flow splitting wedge 58 disclosed and described in connection with the preceding figures. As the flow splitting wedges are the only portions of the structures disclosed in these Figs. 7 to 12, inclusive, which differ from the elements previously described, the same reference characters will be applied to the identical elements and new reference characters will be applied to the flow splitting structures.

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate a single flow splitting wedge structure. This wedge differs from the previously described wedge 58 by having its ridge line 14 arranged truly horizontally instead 01 being inclined like the peak line 62 of wedge 58. This ridge line 14 is formed by the junction of the top edges of the laterally and downwardly sloping top wall portions 15. Perpendicular side walls 16 underlie the lower edges of the sloping top walls 15. The front face 11 of this flow splitting wedge is arranged perpendicularly and is aligned with the partition 23.

Fig. 9 discloses a further modified form of flow splitting wedge. This wedge has a truly horizontally extending peak line 18, like the wedge of Figs. 7 and 8, but the opposite sides are formed entirely by downwardly and laterally sloping walls 19'. These walls are of sufflcient length and are arranged at an appropriate angle with respect to each other to cause the lower edges of the same to terminate laterally of the side edges of the flight opening 51. By projecting beyond the side edges of this side opening 51, the material which falls onto the sloping top walls 19 will be carried laterally away from the side edges of the flight opening to a greater extent than will be accomplished with the flow splitting wedge of Figs. 7 and 8 or the wedge of Figs. land 2. To allow ample room for the material to pass the bottom edges 80 of the sloping walls 19, the side walls 33a are spaced farther apart to provide awider discharge chamber and a wider gathering chute 3i.

Figs. and 11 disclose a still further modified form of flow splitting wedge. This wedge corresponds in shape with the wedge of Figs. 7 and 8 but differs from all previously described wedges by being arranged so that its perpendicular front wall or face Bl is offset or stepped back from the plane of the partition 28. In the handling of certain materials, this rearward offsetting of the perpendicular face 84 is desirable because it assists in effecting rearward discharge of the material from the rear edges of the flights while} they traverse the height of the flow splitting wedge. With other materials, however, this ofisetting is undesirable as material either tends to pack against the perpendicular face 8| or roll along this face and be crushed during the movement of the flights. As a general rule, therefore, the perpendicular front faces of the flow splitting wedges should be vertically aligned with the partition 23. This flow splitting wedge of Figs. 10

and 11 further includes a truly horizontal ridge line 82, downwardly and laterally sloping top walls or surfaces 83, and perpendicular side walls 8A. The flow splitting wedge of Fig. 12 corresponds with the wedge of Fig. 9 in shapeand in.

width. This wedge, however, is offset or stepped backwardly from the partition 23 in the same manner as the wedge of Figs. 10 and 11. The perpendicular front face 85, therefore, is not in vertical alignment with the partition 23. The downwardly sloping side walls 86 of this wedge form a truly horizontally arranged peak line 81 at the junction of their upper edges. Their lower edges 88 project laterally of the flight opening 51 formed in the gathering chute 3|. The side walls 33a'of the casing for this structure of Fig. 12 are spaced farther apart like the side walls of the structure disclosed in Fig. 9.

I It is to be understood that the forms of this till invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and

Having thus described the invention, I claim: a

1. In a casing structure for elevators, or the like, a casing head section divided into vertical leg portions and having a discharge opening adjacentthe upper end of one of said portions, a head wheel .iournaled in the head section, a material transporting device including a plurality of interconnected flights adapted to pass around the head wheel in traveling from one vertical leg portion to the other, said flights being constructed to spill material into the head section as they move therethrough after leaving the vertical leg portion adjacent said discharge opening, an inclined gathering chute for receiving the material split from the flights, extending from the discharge opening across the upper end of said last mentioned vertical leg portion and beneath the head wheel, said chute having a rectangular flight opening which registers with the bore of the said underlying vertical leg portion, and means positioned beneath the head wheel and entirely rearwardly of the inner side of said rectangular flight opening for splitting the flow of material falling thereon from the inner edges of the flights to cause said material to pass around the flight opening of the chute in flowing toward the discharge opening of the head section.

2. In a casing structure for elevators, or the.

like, a casing head section divided into vertical leg portions and having a discharge opening adjacent the upper end of one of said portions, a head wheel journaled in the head section, a material transporting device including a plurality of interconnected flights adapted to pass around the head wheel in traveling from one vertical leg portion to the other, said flights being constructed to spill material into the head section as they move therethrough after leaving the vertical leg portion adjacent said discharge opening, an' inclined gathering chute for receiving the material spilt from the flights, extending from the discharge opening across the upper end of said last mentioned vertical leg portion and beneath the head wheel, said chute having a rectangular flight opening which registers with the bore of said underlying vertical leg, and an elongated flow splitting wedge extending from the inner side of the rectangular flight opening rearwardly thereof to a position beneath the head wheel for causing the material falling thereon from the inner edges of the flights to pass around the flight opening of the chute in flowing toward the discharge opening of the head section.

3. In a casing structure for elevators, or the like, a casing head section divided into vertical leg portions and having a discharge opening adjacent the upper end of one of said portions, a

head wheel journaled in the head section, a material transporting device including a plurality of interconnected flights adapted to pass around the head wheelin traveling from one vertical leg portion to the other, said flights being constructed to spill material into the head section as they move therethrough after leaving the vertical leg portion adjacent said discharge opening, an inclined gathering chute for receiving the material spilt from the flights, extending from the discharge opening across the upper end of said last mentioned vertical leg portion and beneath the head wheel, said chute having a flight opening which registers with the bore of said underlying vertical leg portion, and a flow splitting wedge, having oppositely laterally sloping top surfaces, positioned beneath the head wheel for causing the material spilt over the inner edges of the flights to pass around the flight opening of the chute in flowing toward the discharge opening of the head section.

4. In a casing structure for elevators, or the like, a casing head section divided into vertical leg portions and having a discharge opening adjacent the upper end of one of said portions, a head wheel journaled in the head section, a material transporting device including a plurality of interconnected flights adapted to pass around the head wheel in-traveling from one vertical leg portion to the other, said flights being constructed to spill materialinto the head section as they move therethrough after leaving the vertical legportion adjacent said discharge opening, an inclined gathering chute for receiving the material spilt from the flights, extending from the discharge opening across the upper end of said last mentioned vertical leg portion and beneath the head wheel, said chute having a flight opening which registers with the bore of the said underlying vertical leg, and a flow splitting wedge, having oppositely laterally sloping top surfaces for causing material to flow laterally around the flight opening and a front wall portion for retaining material on the rear portions of the flights after they have moved above the level of the gathering chute and while the material is allowed to spill over the front and sides of the flights.

5. In a casing structure for elevators, or the like, a casing head section divided into vertical leg portions and having a discharge opening adjacent the upper end of one of said portions, 2. head wheel journaled in the head section, a material transporting device including a plurality of interconnected flights adapted to pass around the head wheel in traveling from one vertical leg portion to the other, said flights being constructed to spill material into the head section as they move therethrough after leaving the verti- -cal leg portion adjacent said discharge opening,

opening which registers with the bore of the said underlying vertical leg, and a flow splitting wedge having oppositely laterally sloping top surfaces for causing material to flow laterally around the flight opening and a front wall vertically aligned with the rear edge portion of the flight opening in the chute for retaining material on the rear portions of the flights after they have moved above the level of the gathering chute and while the material is allowed to spill over the front and sides of the flights,

6. In a casing structure for elevators, or the like, a casing head section divided into vertical legportions and having a discharge opening adjacent the upper end of one of said portions, a head wheel journaled in the head section, a material transporting device including a plurality of interconnected flights adaptedv to pass around the head Wheel in traveling from one vertical leg portion to the other, said'flights being constructed to spill material into the head section as they move therethrough after leaving the vertical leg portion adjacent said discharge opening, an inclined gathering chute, for receiving the ,material spilt from the flights, extending from the discharge opening across the upper end of said last mentioned vertical leg portion and beneath the head wheel, said chute having a flight opening-which registers with the bore of the said underlying vertical leg, and a flow splitting wedge having oppositely laterally sloping top surfaces for causing material to flow laterally around the flight opening and a front wall offset rearwardly with respect to the rear edge portion of the flight opening in the chute for the rear portions of the flights after they have moved above the level of the gathering chute and while the material is allowed to spill over the front and sides of the flights.

as they move therethrough after leaving the versaid discharge opening,

tical leg portion adjacent an inclined gathering chute, for receiving the material spilt from the flights; extending from the discharge opening across the upper end of said last mentioned vertical leg portion and beneath the head wheel, said chute having a flight opening which registers with the bore of the said underlying vertical leg, and a flow splitting wedge, 01 greater width than the flight opening in the chute, positioned beneath the head wheel for causing the material spilt over the inner edges of the flights to pass around the flight opening oi the chute in flowing toward the discharge opening of the head section.

8. In a casing structure for elevators, or the like. a casing head section divided into vertical leg portions and having a discharge opening adjacent the upper end of one of said portions, a

- head wheel journaled in the head section, a material transporting device including a plurality of interconnected flights adapted to pass around the head wheel in traveling from one vertical leg portion to the other, said flights being constructed to spill material into the head section as they move therethrough after leaving the vertical leg portion adjacent said discharge opening, an inclined gathering chute, for receiving the material split from the flights, extending from the discharge openingacross the upper end of said last mentioned vertical leg portion and beneath the head wheel, said chute having a flight opening which registers with the bore of said underlying vertical leg, and a flow splitting wedge, having oppositely laterally sloping top surfaces extending beyond the opposite sides or the flight opening in the chute, positioned beneath the head wheel for causing the material spilt over the inner edges of the flights to pass around the night opening of the chute in flowing toward the discharge opening of the had section.

9. In a casing structure for elevators, or the like, a casing head section divided into vertical leg portions and having a discharge opening adiacent the upper end of one or said portions, a

.head wheel journaled in the head section, a material transporting device including a plurality or intcrconnectedfli s adapted to D M'Qlm last mentioned vertical leg retaining material on ing which registers the head wheel in traveling from one vertical leg portion to the other, said flights being constructed to spill material into the head section as they move therethrough after leaving the vertical leg portion adjacent said discharge opening, an inclined gathering chute extending from the discharge opening across the upper end of said and beneath the head wheel, said chute having a flight opening which registers with the bore of said underlying vertical leg, a replaceable lining plate overlying the portion of the gathering chute on which the material spills from the flights, and a flow splitting wedge attached to the lining plate to underlie the head wheel for causing the material spilt over the inner edges or the flights to pass around the flight opening oi the chute in flowing toward the discharge opening of the head section.

10. In a casing structure for elevators, or the like, leg portions and having a discharge opening ad- Jacent the upper end of one of said portions, a head wheel journaled in the head section, a material transporting device including a plurality of interconnected flights adapted to pass around the head wheel in traveling from one vertical leg portion to the other, said flights being constructed to spill material into the head section as they move therethrough after leaving the vertical leg portion adjacent said discharge opening, an inclined gathering chute tor repeiving the material spilt from the flights, extending from the discharge opening across the upper end of said last mentioned vertical leg portion and beneath the head wheel, said chute having a flight openwith the bore of said underlying vertical leg, a flow splitting wedge D sitioned beneath the head wheel for causing the material spilt over the inner edges of the flights to pass around the flight opening of the chute in flowing toward the discharge opening of the head section, and a replaceable wear plate overlying the portion of the gathering chute on which the material spills from the flights.

11. As an article or manufacture, a replaceable part for the inclined gathering chute and a casing head section divided into vertical flow splitting wedge of an elevator, or the like,

casing head section, comprising a plate having an opening or a shape to provide a flight passage portion to register with the flight opening of the aforesaid gathering chute and a portion to flt around the flow splitting wedge carried by the gathering chute.

12. As an article of manufacture, a replaceable part for the inclined gathering chute and flow splitting wedge of an elevator, or the like, casing head section, comprising a plate having an opening of a shape to provide a flight passage portion width to accommodate, with the desired amount of clearance, the traverse oi flights therethrough and having a depth which increases in dimensions upwardly and rearwardly to accommodate two flight runs traveling to and from a head sprocket wheel, and a partition dividing said lower body portion into activeand return passages for said two flight runs; a hollow upper body portion or greater width than the lower body portion to provide a material discharge chamber and being open at its upper end, said discharge chamber being closed at its bottom and rear portions by. an inclined gathering chute having a flight opening registering with the acdischarge chamber having a discharge opening formed therein which is defined at its bottom by the outer edge of the gathering chute, a head shaft journaled at the open end of the upper body portion, a head sprocket wheel on said shaft, and

a cover removabiy attached to the open end of the body portion.

14. In a casing head section for elevators, or the like, a hollow lower body portion having a width to accommodate, with the desired amount of clearance, the traverse of flights therethrough and having a depth which increases in dimensions upwardly and rearwardly to acco odate two flight runs traveling to and from a head sprocket wheel, and a partition dividing said lower body portion into active and return passages for said two flight runs; a hollow upper body portion of greater width than the lower body portion to provide a material discharge chamber and having an opening at its upper erld which is defined at its opposite sides by inwardly bent flanges, said dischargechamber being closed at its bottom and rear portions by an inclined gathering chute having a flight opening registering with the active passage of the flight runs formed by said partition, said chute also forming a dividing wall between the upper and lower body portions and defining the return passage for the flights in said upper body portion, the front wall of said discharge chamber having a discharge opening formed therein which is defined at its bottom by the outer edge of the gathering chute, the flanged sides of said upper body portion open end being cut away to provide openings for the passage of a head shaft, a head shaft journaied in bearings positioned outwardly of and aligned with the shaft openings, a head sproclret wheel mounted on said shaft, sealing means for the shaft openings underlying said inwardly bent flanges, and aflanged cover removably mounted on the said bent flanges of the upper body portion.

15. In a casing head section for elevators, or the like, a, hollow lower body portion having a Width to accommodate, with the desired amount,

of clearance, the traverse of flights therethrough and having a depth which increases in dimensions upwardly and rearwardly to accommodate two flight runs traveling to and from a head sprocket wheel, and a partition dividing said lower body portion into active and return pas sages for said two flight runs; a hollow upper body portion of greater width than the lower body portion to provide a material discharge chamber and being open at its upper end, said discharge chamber being closed at its bottom and rear portions by an inclined gathering chute having a flight opening registering with the active passage of the flight run-s formed by said partition, a flow splitting wedge supported on the gathering chute rearwardly of its flight opening,

said chute also forming a dividing wall between.

, structed to spill material into the head the upper and lower body portions and defining the return passage for the flights in said upper body portion, the front wall of said discharge chamber having a discharge opening formed therein which is defined at its bottom by the outer edge of the gathering chute, a head shaft journaled at the open end of the upper body portion, a head sprocket wheel on said shaft, and a cover removably attached to the open end of the upper body portion.

16. In a casing structure for elevators, or the like, a casing head sectionhaving a side discharge opening, an inclined gathering chute positioned in said head section and sloping toward said discharge opening, said chute having an opening through which material is carried in being delivered thereto, and a flow splitting wedge positioned on the uphill side of said chute opening and having oppositely laterally sloping top chute opening in flowing toward the discharge opening of the head section.

17. In a casing structure for elevators, or the like, a casing head section divided into vertical leg portions and having a discharge opening adsurfaces for causing material to pass around the 2 terial transporting device including a plurality v of interconnected flights adapted to pass around the head wheel in traveling from one vertical leg portion to the other, said flights being consection as they move therethrough after leaving the vertical leg portion adjacent said discharge opening, an inclined gathering chute for receiving the material spilt from the flights, extending from the discharge opening across the upper end oi? said last mentioned vertical leg portion and beneath the head wheel, said flight chute having a rectangular opening which registers with the bore of said underlying vertical leg, and an elongated flow splitting wedge extending from the inner side of the rectangular flight opening rearwardly thereof to a position beneath the head wheel for causing the material falling thereon from the inner edges of the flights to pass around the flight opening of the chute in flowing toward the discharge opening of the head section, said flow splitting wedge also having a front wall portion for retaining material on the rear portions of the flights after they have moved above the level of the gathering chute. I

1b. In a casing structure for elevators, or the like, a. casing head section having a side discharge opening, an inclined gathering chute positioned in said head section and sloping toward said discharge opening, said chute having an opening through which material is carried in being deliveredthereto, and a flow splitting wedge positioned on the uphill side of the chute opening and having a flat perpendicular front wall portion which registers with the adjacent margin of the chute opening and oppositely laterally sloping top surfaces for causing material to pass around the chute opening in flowing toward the discharge opening of the head section.

19. In a casing structure for elevators, or the like, a casing head section having a side discharge opening, an inclined gathering chute positioned in said head section and sloping toward said discharge opening, said chute having an opening through which material is carried in being delivered thereto, and a flow splitting wedge positioned on the uphill side of said chute opening and having oppositely laterally sloping top surfaces, forming at their joined upper edges a forwardly and downwardly sloping ridge, for

' causing material to pass around the chute opening an opening through which material is carried in being delivered to the chute, and a flow splitting wedge positioned on the uphill side of said chute opening and having oppositely laterally sloping top surfaces for causing material to pass around the chute opening in flowing down the chute.

21. In a casing structure for elevators, or the like, the improvement which comprises an inclined material gathering and feeding chute having an opening through which material is carried in being delivered to the chute, and an elongated flow splitting wedge extending along the chute on the uphill side of said chute opening for causing material to pass around the chute 10 opening in flowing down the chute.

FERDINAND F. WAECHTER. 

